Lismore votes to opt out of fluoride in its water supply

In front of a packed gallery, Cr Vanessa Ekins argued that there was strong opposition in the community to mass medicating the water supply and that the scientific evidence for the benefits of fluoride was not conclusive.

Cr Ekins, who is also on the Rous Water council, said the issue had been a divisive one for the region’s water supplier and she implored councillors; “If in doubt, don’t do it.”

The vote went 6/4 with Cr Dowell, Meineke, Marks and Sheibel voting against the motion.

The vote effectively reverses the position Lismore Council took on fluoride in 2006.

Since then there has been a lengthy court case between anti-fluoride activist Al Oshlack and Rous Water.

Rous Water won the case and was in the process of calling for tenders to build four fluoride dosing plants for the water supplies of Lismore and Ballina.